It would be understandable if Bristol City fans were divided on the start of the season. Given the major ups and downs of the last campaign there's bound to be some doubt as to which way things will go in 2017-18.

However, a solid summer of recruitment, some great performances so far this season if not quite collecting the points, and a solid run in the Carabao Cup are all positive signs.

A very tough September approaches, however, with away trips to Reading, Wolves, Norwich and Ipswich on the horizon.

A Bristol City goal team huddle (Image: Joe Meredith/JMP)

And Derby at home on 16 September might be tough too, although the Robins can take heart from only losing one competitive game so far in a game they played very well in.

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Current positions of the teams played (in sequence): 15th, 20th, 23rd, 17th, 18th.

On paper, that doesn't look too great for the Robins but fans should realise that it's not as straight forward as that. Aston Villa were made the favourites for the league by many bookmakers prior to the season or at least in the top two to three options.

Birmingham, too, have been tipped to do well and completed 14 signings across the summer which could point to them being stronger as the campaign develops. Many teams thus may find it hard to gain a result at St Andrew's.

Brentford may also be lying in a false position.

Those results equate to 1.2 points per game.

Joe Bryan of Bristol City shoots at goal against QPR (Image: Robbie Stephenson/JMP)

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The big thing here was the bad results plus the poor home form. A tough start to life in the Championship and a significant blow for Steve Cotterill's ambitions as the Robins adjusted to life in England's second tier.

However, it could be argued that City faced some of the strongest teams in the division that year first.

Steve Cotterill.

The double-winning year of 2014-15

And by way of comparison, here's how things panned out in that great year in League 1.